Injury-ravaged Wasps must stop turnovers
Paul Rees talks to Wasps boss Lee Blackett about his gameplan for Quins
Wasps will be without 18 players for today’s home Premiership match with champions Harlequins as their injury curse showing no sign of being lifted. Their England scrum-half Dan Robson is the latest casualty and will be out of action for three months after suffering a groin tear at Bath last weekend.
Head coach Lee Blackett was already without Joe Launchbury, Jack Willis, Paolo Odogwu, Malakai Fekitoa and James Gaskell. Four of the replacements against Quins have made five appearances for the club between them while five of the starters are in single figures.
“What has pleased me this season is that despite all the injuries the players have shown fight and pride,” said Blackett, right. “We were disappointed not to win at Newcastle and we put up a great battle at home to Exeter. It shows we are building as a team and when we get players back, they will be like new signings.”
Blackett was asked how he felt about his side’s start to the season, three victories and three defeats in their opening six rounds with only the loss at Saracens in blowout territory.
“Three from six does not sound good and a 50 per cent record will not get you into the top four,” said Blackett. “Given the injuries, I would say I am satisfied because we have shown a number of pleasing traits and a lot of character, but there are a few things we can be better at. We have worked hard on our defence and our kicking game and they have been positive aspects.
“We are just going from game to game and we will get a chance to rest players in the next couple of weekends because the Premiership Cup offers us the opportunity to give young guys a run.
“Since I have been here, we have had new signings during a season and they have provided a buzz, such as Nizaam Carr and Willie le Roux. A number of our injured players are likely to become available in the next couple of months and they should definitely give us a lift.”
Wasps were doubled by Quins last season, losing at home 49-17 in the first match after the team that went on to win the title had parted company with head of rugby Paul Gustard before finding themselves at the wrong end of the see-saw at the Stoop in a 48-46 defeat on an afternoon when 12 tries were shared. Quins feel that their success in winning the title was not met with universal acclaim and that many thought they had won it by default in the absence of Saracens and after finishing fourth in the table.
“You do not fluke the Premiership title,” said Blackett. “They became the form team and to do what they did in going on a long successful run showed character given where they were. And in the final they beat a team that had won the double the previous season. “We will have to fight for everything against them. The last time they were here was the start of a run in which they played some unbelievable rugby and their second half display against Bristol recently was as good as you will see.
“A lot of their attacking play is based on their scrum and the biggest work on for us is turnovers because you cannot hand over possession to a team like Quins. We conceded too many turnovers at Bath and we were not efficient enough in their 22.
“It was a game we had to win and we found a way to do so, crucially for our season. Our resilience close to our line was what stood out for me and showed how hard the players are working. I was watching in awe at times and it highlighted the respect they have for each other.”
Blackett said he hoped the dispute between the Premiership and agents would be resolved quickly with the next couple of months the time when new signings are made. “In the short term, agents have a responsibility to players who do not have clubs, but the long-term stuff will be on the back burner. It gives sides in France and Japan a head start on us and we should find out what is happening in the near future.”